Status: Cancelled
Aired: 2015-18, 4 Seasons Totaling 67 Episodes
Network: FOX
Starring: Will Forte, Kristen Schaal, January Jones, Mel Rodriguez, Cleopatra Coleman
Series Website: www.fox.com/the-last-man-on-earth
Description: THE LAST MAN ON EARTH is a new single-camera comedy about the life and adventures of the last man on earth. PHIL MILLER (Forte) was once just an average guy who loved his family and hated his job at the bank – now he’s humanity’s last hope. Will he ever find another person alive on the planet? Would hoping that she is a female be asking too much? FOX.com
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Why Was It Cancelled? This show has had mediocre at best numbers since its first season and has lived On the Bubble each year. The cancellation announcement did not come as a huge surprise considering the network already indicated that it was on thin ice. But it does seem like an odd moved to cut the show short when it is so close to a syndication friendly count of episodes. It has amassed 67 eps by the end of its fourth season and another 18 episodes (its typical order) would get it to 85, close enough to the threshold that the syndication market prefers for an encore run. Considering that the network owns the show, it sure seems like it makes financial sense to keep it around for one more year in order to reap the long-term profits from the syndication sale (and also to not leave the show ending on a cliffhanger). Maybe the cast had a fifth season clause that boosted their salaries which would make it expensive to bring it back, but the network would make that up in the long run. And don’t expect another network to pick this one up because FOX owns it which would make it difficult for anybody else to make money off of it. So for now, it appears that fans will have to come up with their own resolution to that cliffhanger ending.
Season to Date (StD) Ratings Results:
| Air Date | Airings | Live+SD Rtg | StD Avg | Tot Vwrs (M) | Live+7 Rtg | Status |
| 10/1/17 | 1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 2.3 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 10/8/17 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.2 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 10/15/17 | 3 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 10/22/17 | 4 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 10/29/17 | n/a | Preempted | 0.9 | n/a | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 11/5/17 | 5 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.9 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 11/12/17 | 6 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 2.2 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 11/19/17 | 7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.8 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 11/26/17 | n/a | Preempted | 0.8 | n/a | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 12/3/17 | 8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.9 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 12/10/17 | n/a | On Hiatus | 0.8 | 1.9 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 1/7/18 | 9 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 3.0 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 1/14/18 | 10 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 3.3 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 1/21/18 | n/a | On Hiatus | 0.9 | n/a | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 3/18/18 | 11 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.6 | n/a | On the Bubble |
| 3/25/18 | 12 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.6 | n/a | On the Bubble |
| 4/1/18 | 13 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | n/a | On the Bubble |
| 4/8/18 | 14 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.5 | n/a | On the Bubble |
| 4/15/18 | 15 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | n/a | On the Bubble |
| 4/22/18 | 16 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.5 | n/a | On the Bubble |
| 4/29/18 | 17 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.8 | n/a | On the Bubble |
| 5/6/18 | 18 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.7 | n/a | On the Bubble |
For breaking news and the latest ratings results, be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site. For the renewal/cancellation status of your favorite shows follow the Sci Fi TV Status Report.
2016-17 Season Ratings Results:
| Air Date | Airings | Live+SD Rtg | StD Avg | Tot Vwrs (M) | Live+7 Rtg | Status |
| 9/25/16 | 1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 2.2 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 10/2/16 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 1.6 | Renewal Possible |
| 10/9/16 | n/a | Preempted | 1.0 | n/a | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 10/16/16 | 3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 2.7 | n/a | On the Bubble |
| 10/23/16 | 4 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.1 | n/a | On the Bubble |
| 10/30/16 | n/a | Preempted | 1.0 | n/a | n/a | On the Bubble |
| 11/6/16 | 5 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.1 | n/a | On the Bubble |
| 11/13/16 | 6 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 2.6 | n/a | On the Bubble |
| 11/20/16 | 7 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 | On the Bubble |
| 11/27/16 | Repeat | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 | n/a | On the Bubble |
| 12/4/16 | 8 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 2.5 | n/a | On the Bubble |
| 12/11/16 | 9 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 1.5 | Renewal Possible |
| 12/18/16 | n/a | On Hiatus | 1.0 | n/a | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 3/5/17 | 10 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.2 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 3/12/17 | 11 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.0 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 3/19/17 | 12 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.3 | Renewal Possible |
| 3/26/17 | 13 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.0 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 4/2/17 | 14 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.7 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 4/9/17 | Repeat | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.4 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 4/16/17 | Repeat | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.1 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 4/23/17 | 15 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.7 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 4/30/17 | 16 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
| 5/7/17 | 17 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.8 | n/a | Renewal Possible |
2015-16 Season Ratings Results:
| Air Date | Airings | Live+SD Rtg | StD Avg | Tot Vwrs (M) | Live+7 Rtg | Cancel Alert |
| 9/27/15 | 1 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 2.3 | Low |
| 10/4/15 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 3.3 | n/a | Low |
| 10/11/15 | 3 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 2.0 | Low |
| 10/18/15 | 4 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 1.8 | Moderate |
| 10/25/15 | 5 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 3.4 | n/a | Moderate |
| 11/1/15 | n/a | Preempted | 1.3 | n/a | n/a | Moderate |
| 11/8/15 | 6 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 1.9 | Elevated |
| 11/15/15 | 7 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 2.8 | n/a | Elevated |
| 11/22/15 | 8 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 2.1 | Elevated |
| 11/29/15 | Repeat | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.8 | n/a | Elevated |
| 12/6/15 | 9 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 2.1 | Elevated |
| 12/13/15 | 10 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 2.0 | Elevated |
| 12/20/15 | n/a | On Hiatus | 1.3 | 3.2 | n/a | Elevated |
| 3/6/16 | 11 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 1.8 | Elevated |
| 3/13/16 | 12 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 2.6 | n/a | Elevated |
| 3/20/16 | n/a | Preempted | 1.3 | n/a | n/a | Elevated |
| 3/27/16 | n/a | Preempted | 1.3 | n/a | n/a | Elevated |
| 4/3/16 | 13 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 1.5 | Renewed |
| 4/10/16 | 14 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.7 | n/a | Renewed |
| 4/17/16 | 15 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.5 | n/a | Renewed |
| 4/24/16 | 16 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 1.6 | Renewed |
| 5/1/16 | n/a | Preempted | 1.2 | n/a | n/a | Renewed |
| 5/8/16 | 17 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 1.5 | Renewed |
| 5/15/16 | 18 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2.2 | n/a | Renewed |
2014-15 Season Ratings:
| Air Date | Airings | Live+SD Rtg | StD Avg | Tot Vwrs (MM) | Live+7 Rtg | Cancel Alert |
| 3/1/15 | 1 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 5.8 | 3.8 | Low |
| 3/8/15 | 2 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 4.4 | 3.3 | Low |
| 3/15/15 | 3 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 3.8 | 2.8 | Low |
| 3/22/15 | 4 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 4.3 | 2.6 | Low |
| 3/29/15 | 5 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 2.2 | Low |
| 4/5/15 | Repeat | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.0 | n/a | Low |
| 4/12/15 | 6 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 2.1 | Renewed |
| 4/19/15 | 7 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 2.4 | Renewed |
| 4/26/15 | 8 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 2.3 | Renewed |
| 5/3/15 | 9 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 3.5 | 2.4 | Renewed |
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Sometimes Phil is a little too stupid, an unbelievable level of clueless, I wish they’d tone it down a bit. The fun aspect of the show for me, is the imaginative ways the characters find to garner resources and entertainment for themselves. There’s a fantasy element: what would you do if you could go anywhere you wanted, live in any grand house, do anything you wanted?
It’s time to marginalize Will forte. The remaining cast carries the show. Forte’s character has been reduced to an irritating also-ran who’s completely unnecessary facial hair and constant bumbling and failed social skills are becoming a frustrating distraction from the real talent on the show. I’d hate to see this show cancelled because forte’s over-written character disrupted the balance, but maybe it is time for “Tandy” to “accidentally die” and let everyone be sad for a bit before moving on to even better adventures!
It’s one of my favorite shows!!!
I am happy to see it renewed — It is nutty and corney with a subplot of sex but it is highly likeable and entertaining to a dimwitted 70 year old lady like me.
I love this show. It’s funny and the characters are great! Yes, it is stupid humor….just like Wil Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Jackie Chan. Great stupid fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jackie Chan stupid humor?? No. Not even close to the stupidity of this one.
When I first heard Will Forte of SNL was doing a a postapocalyptic sitcom for FOX–I had Great Expectations–well honest to Dickens–absolutey NONE of them were MET! That thing stinks on ice !I honestly think he is just taking the money and running! Poor uS! Mike Roe
The show jumped the shark at episode four.
Simple? Yes. Stupid? Yes. Funny? Of course!!! My girl friend and I laughed so much!
The characters are so well played! We love the program. Watch it in Hulu _every-week!
So — that was it? 12 episodes and gone? Come on!!! What does the American public want?
Blood? Profanity? Non-sense Reality Shows? The Last Man on Earth is an original idea that
has great potential. DO NOT CANELL IT — P-L-E-A-S-E!!!
It has been renewed. Returns in Fall for its second season.
one of the worst shows ive seen. surprised it got renewed….appeals to the stupid though.
Once it got going , it’s pretty funny in a dark humor and absurdist kind of way. The bottom line is this: I’m laughing pretty hard.
Stupid??!? Yes… Entertaining? Absolutely!! I love it! Lol
stupid yes, entertaining, you betcha!!
I could not watch 10 minutes that’s how stupid this show was.